The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE-Main) 2026 has officially commenced in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), JEE-Main is a crucial examination for students aspiring to pursue engineering courses at premier institutes in India, including the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
Authorities have ensured smooth logistical arrangements and adherence to safety protocols as many Indian students are set to appear for the exam.
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The development comes as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently cancelled all board examinations in several Middle East countries amid the ongoing conflict. The CBSE's move had raised speculation whether the upcoming JEE Main exam will be held in the Middle East countries, including Saudi Arabia.
In a post on social media site X, the Indian Embassy said, "JEE (Main) 2026 examinations have officially commenced today in Saudi Arabia, with arrangements in place to ensure a smooth and seamless conduct of the exams." The embassy emphasized that it is providing full support to the NTA and the designated examination centre to “facilitate the process and assist the candidates throughout”.
This year, a significant number of Indian students residing in Saudi Arabia are registered to appear for the examination. The embassy highlighted its efforts to ensure that all logistical arrangements, from seating and exam materials to adherence to safety protocols, are in place to avoid any disruptions.
The Indian mission also extended its encouragement to the students, saying, "Wishing all students the very best for their exams and great success ahead!" See the post here:
Officials noted that the embassy will continue to remain available for any assistance or guidance required by candidates throughout the examination period.
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.
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Home/India News/JEE (Main) 2026 exam begins in Saudi Arabia: What you need to know
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